December 2025
Join the holiday festivities filled with unforgettable experiences and one-of-a-kind programming at Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. With a variety of ticket options available, you’ll find the perfect pass to the past.
Make History with the Perfect Present
Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Bring history home this holiday season. Online or in-store, find the perfect present or stocking stuffer for everyone on your shopping list from our museum shops. See a curated mix of special treasures and one-of-a-kind gifts in this year’s holiday gift guide.
All purchases support the educational mission of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation.
Candlelight Christmas
Dec 13 │ American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Experience the warmth of a colonial Christmas with a heart full of 18th-century holiday magic during this special after-hours evening event. Start by meeting modern-day Santa and creating period crafts in our cozy galleries, then step outside to discover how Continental Army soldiers celebrated Christmas and listen to traditional music from live performers on the Revolution-era farm.
Christmastide in Virginia
Dec 20-24 & 26-31 │ Both Museums
'Tis the season for festive hands-on programming with 17th- and 18th-century holiday traditions at Jamestown Settlement & American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. Join in the revelry of fancy cooking in kitchens that need no electricity, merriment of the Lord of Misrule “grand captain of all mischief” and enjoyment of live musical entertainment from period performers. Closed Christmas.
© Royal Collection Enterprises Limited [2025] Royal Collection Trust
China, One of a pair of bottles, Ceramic 1580, gilt bronze mounts, late 17th-early 19th century.
Following the Dragon
On Display at Jamestown Settlement
Explore how unearthed artifacts connect two distant worlds.
For Jamestown Settlement’s joint special exhibition with Jamestown Rediscovery, a total of 31 vessels recovered during archaeological excavations of the 1607-1625 fort at Historic Jamestowne are paired with intact parallels from English, Dutch and American museums, as well as private collections from across the globe.
Among the notable objects, on loan for the first time from the Royal Collection Trust and usually displayed at Buckingham Palace, is a Ming bottle with gilt-bronze mounts that features a fenghuang, a mythical bird representing the Chinese empress and symbolizing joy, peace and sincerity. One of only three examples known to exist, the Ming bottle is displayed near archaeological fragments of a bottle uncovered at Historic Jamestowne.
Betsy Ross and the Flag, June 1777, Oscar de Mejo. 1973.
Fresh Views of the American Revolution
On Display at American Revolution Museum at Yorktown
Add your own perspective to our unfinished story.
The American Revolution was more than a political or military victory, as John Adams reflected in 1818, “radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments and affection of the people, was the real American Revolution.” This living revolution continues to shift and grow with each new generation and is the centerpiece of the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown’s new special exhibition.
In advance of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we’re showcasing bold artworks from Oscar de Mejo to contemporary artists that inspire new reflections on the principles and ideas of this pivotal time in history. By posing questions about the nature of liberty, freedom and equality, this exhibition allows audiences to reflect on the reality of this endless American Revolution.
JYF Museums is proud to partner with the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and American Revolution.
We're working harder than ever to keep history alive, from preserving our world-class museum collection and outdoor living-history areas, to on-site and online education efforts. To help preserve our shared past and shape future generations, support the JYF, Inc. Annual Fund today.
